Safety & Rescue

Local Lifesavers upskill to make our beaches safer

Local surf lifesavers have increased capability to keep beachgoers safe this summer as local members recently participated in an intensive 6-day jet ski course delivered by Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA). Over 6 days, from 29 September – 4 October, participants from Busselton, City of Bunbury and Dalyellup Beach Surf…

Increase in south west beach clearances due to sharks

At the close of the school holidays, as Surf Life Saving WA’s south west based Westpac Helicopter moved from daily to weekend patrols yesterday afternoon, the service reported a more than 65% increase in swimmers and surfers being cleared from the water due to the presence of sharks. Over the…

Carcass attracts predators

Following a public report of whale carcass located some 500m off Peppermint Grove Beach, south of Bunbury, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) requested assistance from Surf Life Saving WA’s Westpac Helicopter to locate the carcass. “Given the propensity for these carcasses to attract sharks, being able…

Wesfarmers Jet Ski Team members recognised at Australian Search and Rescue Awards

Earlier this week, two of Surf Life Saving WA’s Wesfarmers Emergency Response Team (WERT) members were recognised in the prestigious Australian Search & Rescue Awards for their outstanding contributions to search and rescue within the Australian region. David Macmahon and Jacob Oversby, both members of the Esperance Surf Life Saving…

Surf Life Saving bracing for busy beaches as heli services return to the skies

Surf Life Saving WA’s (SLSWA) state government funded Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopters will return to the skies this Saturday, 5 September as SLSWA predict an increase in beachgoers due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. “When COVID-19 restrictions were first introduced in March, we saw people flock to our beaches as a…

New jet ski to patrol local beaches this summer

Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club is gearing up for the coming patrol season as they took possession of their first jet ski this week. Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club President Dan Humble said the new jet ski was a fantastic asset not just for the club but for…

Beach sense urged ahead of Easter long weekend

With warm weather forecast over the coming Easter long weekend, Surf Life Saving WA is urging West Australian’s to be sensible and heed state government advice if heading to the beach over the coming days. “We are fortunate that our beaches are still open, but that will only remain the…

Beach patrols to continue amidst Coronavirus crisis

Surf Life Saving WA have announced that beach patrols will continue across WA beaches to maintain public safety and prevent drownings as the state comes to grips with the growing Coronavirus crisis. While many people are self-isolating and public gatherings or more than 500 people in outdoor spaces have been…